Pacquiao then added the WBO world title, defeating Jessie Vargas, later in 2016, only to lose that title to Jeff Horn last year.

He currently holds the WBA Regular world title after beating Lucas Martin Matthysse in July 2018.

Mayweather last fought in August 2017 against UFC champion Conor McGregor, winning by stoppage in the 10th round, a fight that moved him to 50-0 and then told the world he was retired.

How much appeal a rematch between the two greats has, can and will be debated.

“Floyd Mayweather is very serious about the fight, from everything I’ve seen and heard Manny Pacquiao is serious about it as well.” Espinoza said in a media scrum today.

“There is a lot that needs to be done, this year would be a big challenge. Not that we haven’t pulled off stuff in a short time. Like we did with Mayweather – McGregor.

“But I do think we will be seeing the rematch, Mayweather – Pacquiao in short order. I understand people doubted it because of the way it was announced, so to speak, in a viral video but I think that was just Floyd taking advantage of an opportunity in marketing and the way he markets things.”

When asked how does 2019 sound.

“2019 sounds perfect. That way I get a little sleep after this event then we go at Mayweather – Pacquiao 2 right away!”

It would seem the fight is a lot closer than people originally thought.

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Keep An Eye on Philadelphia’s Stephen “Scooter” Fulton

Posted on 06/15/2018

By: Ken Hissner

Philadelphia featherweight Stephen “Scooter” Fulton had an outstanding amateur career. He was a Ringside, National Golden Gloves and Junior National Golden Gloves and Silver Gloves Champion.

Fulton was working out at the James Shuler Memorial Gym in Philly when I approached him about a story. I have seen him box professionally about eight times. His trainer since day one is Hamza Muhammad. He is managed by Al Haymon.

Photo Credit: Stephen Fulton’s Twitter Account

Fulton has had the nickname “Scooter” for some time but on the belt of his trunks you can see “Cool Boy Steph”. He’s been in camp with former WBA Super World Featherweight and now interim WBO World Featherweight champion Carl “The Jackal” Frampton in the UK helping him get ready for his last fight against Nonito Donaire in April of this year.

Fulton is a “classic Philly boxer” who will been turning 24 in July. Of his twelve wins he defeated five unbeaten opponents in his last six fights. His upcoming bout June 16th will be on the undercard of IBF World Welterweight champion Errol Spence, Jr. and Carlos Ocampo at the Ford Center at the Star, in Frisco, Texas, on USA Showtime in Fulton’s first ten round bout.

Fulton’s next opponent will be Mexico’s Jesus “La cobra” Ahumada, 14-1, with 9 stoppages making his US debut. After four bouts at four rounds Fulton had six bouts at six rounds before his last two bouts at eight rounds. He hasn’t fought since December of 2017 in Hialeah, FL, winning a majority decision over Adam “Bluenose” Lopez, then 8-0, who has won two fights since his loss to Fulton.

Fulton also won a majority four round decision over Joshua Greer, Jr., in 2015 and came off the canvas to stop Adalberto Zorrilla, 6-0, in the fourth of a scheduled 6 in 2016. This will be Fulton’s ninth Spanish opponent. In 2017 along with the win over Lopez he defeated Luis Rosario, 8-0-1, over 8 rounds at the Sands Casino in Bethlehem, PA. Nine of his twelve wins have been in PA.

Fulton turned professional in October of 2014 on the undercard of IBF World Super Featherweight champion Rances Bathelemy’s defense against Fernando Saucedo at Foxwoods Resorts, Mashantucket, CT, stopping Issac Badger in two rounds. Fulton had wins in each of the next three months defeating Damen Wood in November, Benjamin Burgos in December and Eric Gotay in January. He had four more fights that year but in 2016 and 2017 he only fought twice each year.

“I could make 122 but it seems I can get more fights at featherweight so I will stay there for now,” said Fulton. He is looking very sharp in the gym and definitely one to “keep an eye on!”

On Saturday Fulton will be seeking his thirteenth win on the undercard of the IBF World welterweight champion Errol Spence, Jr., 23-0 (20), defending his title against Mexican Carlos Ocampo, 22-0 (13) card at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. Fulton will be in his first 10 round bout taking on Jesus “La cobra” Ahumada, 14-1 (9), of Sonorea, MEX, on USA Showtime promoted by Tom Brown’s TGB Promotions.

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Potential Thurman-Garcia Bout Raises Interesting Questions

Word is out – via RingTV.com – that Showtime honcho Stephen Espinoza is hoping that Danny Garcia will face Keith Thurman in a high end matchup early next year. Think of it as a welterweight unification of sorts…one that will eventually make its way around…. maybe. The truth is that there’s something frustrating about having to wait roughly six months for a fight that could realistically go down in around twelve weeks or so (though – in fairness – Thurman is said to have received damage from cuts recently – presumably from his bout with Shawn Porter). Fans can be accused of being over-eager, immature, or simply clueless as to the reality of things, but there’s no denying most anyone who follows boxing would like to see a Garcia-Thurman bout sooner rather than later.

After all, these are two undefeated pros who may well be entering their primes, fighters who bring quality resumes and real excitement to their bouts. To be made to wait, only to find out the fight may never happen at all, is truly frustrating. It’s also indicative of why boxing isn’t as popular as it could be – never mind used to be. People simply like things in a timely manner. It’s not impatience. To the contrary, it’s the expectation of professionalism on behalf of promoters, managers, networks and fighters. The fact that the UFC now delivers major card after major card only serves to make boxing look less than functional in contrast.

Then again, perhaps it isn’t boxing that’s making the big mistake here. Take the UFCs two biggest stars of the past year. Ronda Rousey was said to be the toughest fighter on the planet. What’s more, there was the feeling that if one didn’t agree with that ridiculous assertion then one was somehow a chauvinist (talk about brilliant marketing!). Yet Rousey ended up getting beat in her 13th fight – not just badly, savagely – roughly three months after her previous bout.

Then, of course, there was Conor McGregor, the mouthy Irishman who bullied his way to an impressive record and much fame. Fellow UFC fighter Nate Diaz claimed McGregor was given special treatment by the organization, but no one wanted to listen – until, of course Diaz gave McGregor a real beatdown last March – roughly three months after McGregor’s previous bout. The point to all this? That perhaps the UFC does a better job with its own brand than it does with the brands of its individual fighters, which is something to think about.

Say what you will about guru Al Haymon, there’s little doubt he makes sure his top fighters are well paid. Just how much, one may wonder, did McGregor and Rousey really earn from fighting so frequently in the past twelve months? Probably nowhere near what boxing’s top fighter, Floyd Mayweather, made in the twelve months previous to those. Boxing fans are mad that they’re made to wait. Yet will either Rousey or McGregor ultimately have as successful career as Mayweather? Or Pacquiao? Or Thurman? Or Garcia?

It’s hard to tell, really. And that’s rather telling in and of itself.

Even though it’s frustrating not seeing fights like Thurman-Porter and GGG-Canelo arrive in a timely manner, none of those four guys risk ultimately becoming flashes in a very large pan. Still, couldn’t things speed up a little so long as a fighter’s individual health isn’t on the line? Boxing is largely a consumer based business, after all…and, generally speaking, the customer has some legitimate complaints right now.

On Saturday night the Foxwoods Resort Casino will televised two world title fights live on Showtime as Gary Russell Jr. defends his WBC Featherweight Title against Patrick Hyland in the main event of the evening and Jose Pedraza defends his IBF Junior Lightweight Title against Stephen Smith.

Other noted boxers will appear on the undercard including Antonio Russell in the bantamweight division as well as former light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson facing Cornelius White. Only two fights are currently scheduled to be televised on Showtime, but highlights of the undercard may be shown.

Jose “The Sniper” Pedraza had some considerable hype when he turned a professional for he represented Puerto Rico in the 2008 Summer Olympics and medaled in several international events. He is the current IBF Junior Lightweight title holder and has a significant edge in amateur experience over his opponent Stephen Smith, despite the fact Smith won the gold medal in the 2006 Commonwealth Games as an amateur.

Neither boxer is known for their power, as Pedraza has twelve knockouts on his record while Smith has thirteen. Pedraza is four years younger than Smith at twenty six years old. He will also have about a two inch height advantage as well as a four and a half inch reach advantage.

Smith has never fought outside of the United Kingdom and Saturday will be his first fight in the United States. Smith’s resume is lacking in big name victories, and his biggest wins to date were over Devis Boschiero, Mauricio Munoz, and Gary Buckland. Smith’s lone loss was by TKO to Lee Selby back in 2011.

Pedraza’s last victory was against Edner Cherry which he won by split decision. Other notable victories include Andrey Klimov, Michael Farenas, and Sergio Reyes.

This is a bout that Pedraza should win, quite easily. However, Pedraza has shown that he may have difficulty against crafty veterans as was evident in his bout against Edner Cherry. Unfortunately for Smith, he does not appear to have the power to catch Pedraza by surprise and he was stopped the last time he faced a big name opponent.

Gary Russell Jr. has a reputation for fighting boxers that are way overmatched, and Saturday night appears to be another fight that he should win easily.

Patrick Hyland is one half of the Hyland brothers and is more famous for his previous management deal with Snooki of MTV’s the Real World than for his actual boxing ability. Patrick was the better of the two Hyland brothers, but it appears he no longer has a working relationship with Snooki.

Both Hyland and Russell have fifteen knockouts on their resume. Hyland will have a significant height advantage as he is three and a half inches taller than Russell. Russell, however, is five years younger than Hyland.

Russell also holds an edge over Hyland in amateur experience. Russell qualified for the United States in the 2008 Olympics but failed to compete due to missing weight.

Despite the fact Russell has a reputation for fighting inferior opponents, he has a vastly better resume than Hyland. He has defeated the likes of Jhonny Gonzalez, Christopher Martin, Vyacheslav Gusev, and Christopher Perez. His lone loss was the current world champion and amateur standout Vasyl Lomachenko. Russell has two stoppage wins in his past five fights.

Hyland’s only notable victories came against Emmanuel Lucero and Frankie Arhculetta. His lone loss was to Javier Fortuna in 2012.

Hyland is the type of opponent that Russell should dispatch of easily. Russell does have problems when he’s facing someone that can match him in hand speed as was evident in his bout with Lomachenko, but Hyland will be outmatched in hand speed.

This is a bout that Russell should look incredible in, and it’s hard to envision a scenario where Hyland pulls off the upset.